Saikhom Mirabai Chanu fizzles out in Olympic weightlifting

Rio de Janeiro: Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu produced a disappointing performance and was unable to make an impact in the women’s 48kg category at the Riocentro Pavilion 2 arena here.

Competing in Group A, Chanu lifted 82 kilograms in the snatch event, but could not complete any of her lifts in the clean and jerk.

Sopita Tanasan of Thailand won the gold with a total lift of 200 kilograms. This was her maiden Olympic title. Having claimed a fourth place finish in the women’s 53kg category at the World Championships last year, Sopita changed her category to the 48kg in her quest to win gold at the Rio Olympics.

Sri Wahyuni Agustiani of Indonesia clinched the silver with 192 kilograms while Japan’s Hiromi Miyake (188 kilograms) took the bronze.

Sopita lifted 92 kilograms in the snatch and 108 kilograms in the clean and jerk. Agustiani lifted 85 kilograms in the snatch and 107 in the clean and jerk while Hiromi had attempts of 81 and 107 in the snatch and clean and jerk respectively.

Chanu earned her Olympic berth in the Rio 2016 Olympics ticket after breaking the national record in the Olympics trials held in Patiala and was in with a chance for a medal going by current form.

With the world record holder Yang Lian of China pulling out of the Olympics, the women’s 48kg category had become more open with several lifters in the running for medals.

Chanu had poor start in the snatch as she was unable to lift 82 kilograms in her first attempt. The Manipur girl managed to lift the weight in her second attempt before faltering againt while attempting 84 kilograms in her third attempt.

That put Chanu sixth in the standings going into the clean jerk. The 21-year-old faltered with 104 kilograms in her first attempt. With the leading pack seemig to increasingly going out of reach, Chanu went for 106 kilograms in her remaing two attempts, but could not register a single successful lift, thus crashing out of contention.

Tanasan lifted 106 kilograms in her first attempt in the clean and jerk. The 21-year-old then succeeded in her second attempt with 108 kilograms, but failed to lift 110 kilograms. She lifted 88kg in her first attempt in the snatch, successfully lifted 90 kilograms in her second attempt before finishing with 92 kilograms in her third attempt.